[367] in Privacy_Forum
[ PRIVACY Forum ] Google, Network Neutrality, and Bomb #20
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (privacy@vortex.com)
Thu Jul 10 15:38:32 2008
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Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:17:38 -0700
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Google, Network Neutrality, and Bomb #20
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/000403.html
Greetings. A recent op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, penned by
a frequent apologist for ISPs, casts dark aspersions on Google's
support for Internet network neutrality efforts
( http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/08/EDBH11LNQS.DTL ).
Just as a theoretical for the sake of the argument, let's assume
that Google "has been the prime organizer and source of funding" for
various network neutrality causes, as the op-ed's author posits.
In such a case, I say, "Hurrah! Keep It Up. Go Google!"
During the wonderful 1974 John Carpenter film "Dark Star," a
starship crew member attempts to talk planet-destroyer "Bomb #20"
into not exploding while still attached to the ship
( http://youtube.com/watch?v=qjGRySVyTDk ). (Assignment: Go rent the
movie to learn how the ship reached this bizarre state in the first
place.)
He trys to convince the bomb that the detonation countdown order it
received never actually occurred, and that the bomb cannot trust its
own senses regarding absolute reality. The bomb then asks how -- if
its senses are unreliable -- it can know that it's presently even
actually discussing the concept at that moment?
The crewman replies that the concept is valid no matter where it
originates.
And so it is with network neutrality. It's ridiculous to suggest
that Google's support of network neutrality in any way diminishes
the concept. And it's similar nonsense to suggest that Google's
concept of network neutrality would be bad for the "little guy."
Does Google stand to benefit in a neutral network environment?
Sure. So what? So do lots of other entities, from individuals to
large corporations of many varied stripes. In fact, the only real
losers under a rigorous network neutrality regime might likely be
those ISPs who are currently trying to extend their stranglehold
over a now crucial element of our infrastructure -- the Internet
itself -- while pushing their "We Control the Net" philosophy and
related anticompetitive behaviors even to the extent of modifying
and wiretapping user data.
Google itself has the resources to likely survive nicely even
without the sort of network neutrality that I want to see in place.
I am convinced that while network neutrality could well help
Google's bottom line -- and obviously they know that -- Google's
interest and support in this area basically springs from a genuine
philosophical alignment with the importance of neutrality issues for
the benefit of the entire Internet and all of its users.
One last item for now. There is an implicit implication in some of
the anti-Google rhetoric related to this topic, which seems to make
the tacit suggestion that certain well known and highly visible
individuals, who have long been associated with the promotion of
causes related to and associated with network neutrality, have
somehow been corrupted and invalidated by their relationships with
Google. This is in my opinion not only factually incorrect, but
also scurrilous and offensive.
--Lauren--
Lauren Weinstein
lauren@vortex.com or lauren@pfir.org
Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
http://www.pfir.org/lauren
Co-Founder, PFIR
- People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
Co-Founder, NNSquad
- Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
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